Special to Yahoo Sports
What had already been a strange start to the NBA season only got wackier over the last week. Injuries, suspensions, and ruts are responsible for catapulting the following five players into fantasy relevance. In addition to the handful of suggested pickups for this week, I’ve included a list of recently recommended players who remain rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues. Without further ado, here are five players to consider adding via the waiver wire.
With Mitchell Robinson (ankle) sidelined for at least two months, Hartenstein can be expected to continue playing most of the minutes at center for New York. Over the last three games, he’s averaging 7.7 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.7 blocks and 0.7 steals in 28.5 minutes. If Hartenstein can keep up this level of production, he’s worth adding across all formats; scoop him up now before it’s too late. Coach Tom Thibodeau is starting Jericho Sims, and the organization recently brought back Taj Gibson, but neither development should dissuade fantasy managers in standard-sized leagues from adding Hartenstein.
Dallas is dealing with several injuries to perimeter players, including Kyrie Irving (heel), Josh Green (elbow) and Seth Curry (ankle). Meanwhile, Exum has come on strong lately, averaging 19.8 points, 5.0 dimes, 4.5 boards, 3.0 threes, 0.8 steals and 0.5 blocks in 33.0 minutes over the last four contests. His shooting percentages during this recent stretch are unsustainable (67% FG and 67% 3P), but Exum may be in the process of carving out a considerable role for himself going forward. While he was only a 31% three-point shooter in his NBA career before this season, Exum made strides overseas last year and shot 39% from distance, so some of his three-point shooting is probably real. He’s worthy of consideration for short-term and speculative purposes, especially with Irving out indefinitely and Dallas having a four-game Week 9.
Kuminga has scored in double figures in five of the last six games, and it seems as though Draymond Green’s indefinite suspension will likely be a lengthy one. Furthermore, in Golden…
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